Christ in the Holiness of the Priests Leviticus 21-22

The Bible gives us a picture What Will You Become? I hate what I am, and I don’t know how to change it. The Bible gives us a picture of God’s design for us and how to get there.

A. What Is Holiness?

Holiness as a Model So what am I supposed to be like? Holy. Take a look at Leviticus 21-22. What does that mean?

Outline of Leviticus I. The sacrifices (1-7) II. Consecrating the priests (8-10) III. Uncleanness and its remedy (11-16) IV. Maintaining holiness (17-27)

Areas for Maintaining Holiness Abstain from blood, 17 Sexual abominations of the nations, 18 Holiness in life, 19 Punishments for abominations, 20 Priests’ life, 21-22 The great feasts, 23 Holy supplies and holy name, 24 The sabbath and jubilee years, 25 Blessings and curses, 26 Exchanging vowed items, 27

Areas of Priestly Holiness I. The priests’ person, 21:1-24 Defilement for the dead, 21:1-4, 10-12 No cuttings, 21:5-6 Restriction in marriage, 21:7-9, 13-15 Bodily defects, 21:16-24 II. The priests’ food, 22:1-32 General: respect holy, 22:1-2, 9, 31-33 No eating holy while unclean, 22:3-8 Only for priest’s household, 22:10-16 No defects in sacrifices, 22:17-25 Other restrictions on sacrifices, 22:26-30 Why?

Principle of Holiness * “Be holy to their God,” 21:6 Because they present offerings, 21:6 “Because I the LORD am holy,” 21:8 “I who make you holy,” 21:8 5 God’s holiness imitation priest’s God is key.

Fulfillment of Priest’s Holiness 2 Christ is God and priest 1 3 priest holy God you are holy in Christ Heb. 10:10

Principle of Holiness Now * In Leviticus 22 In New Testament Be holy Present offerings I the LORD am holy I make you holy Be holy, 1 Pet. 1:15 Present yourself, Rom. 12:1 Christ is holy, 1 Pet. 1:16 Christ makes you holy, Heb. 10:10

B. The Priest’s Person

How Do You Become New? 1 Now, how can I possibly become In Christ the holy? 1 In Christ the great Priest.

Expressions of Bodily Holiness Leviticus 21 Christ’s fulfillment 1 avoid unclean no pollution overcomes death, bad “wife” (Eph. 5:26) death, 1-4,10-12 bad wife, 7-9, 13-15 2 avoid marring no imperfection overcomes cuttings and marring of crucifixion cuttings, 5-6 defects in bodily wholeness, 16-24

Expressions of Bodily Holiness Leviticus 21 Christian hope 1 avoid unclean no pollution resurrection new Jerusalem death, 1-4,10-12 bad wife, 7-9, 13-15 2 avoid marring no imperfection perfect body perfect city cuttings, 5-6 defects in bodily wholeness, 16-24 Real perfection!

C. The Priest’s Holy Food

Growing in Holiness 1 How do I grow? It’s like eating.

Fulfillment of Holy Food 2 1 3 Christ is food priests alone have holy food you feed on Christ Perfect food. John 6:53-59

Fulfillment of Laws for Holy Food Leviticus 22 In you * Respect holy food, 22:1-2, 9, 31-33 No eating while unclean, 22:3-8 Only for the priest’s household, 22:10- 16 No defects in sacrifices, 22:17-25 Honor Christ, 1 Pet. 3:15 Purity for Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:27-34 Only for priests (you), John 6:35-40 Christ leaves no defect, Eph. 5:26

Feeding on Christ John 6:53-56: Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 1 Feeding on Christ 2 The Lord’s Supper an intensive instance

Distinction of Priests Leviticus 22 In you Christ is high priest, Heb. 7:26-8:6 high priest priest Levite You have access like a high priest, Heb. 10:19-22 all Israel all nations pastors and elders have special duties and deserve support

Holiness versus False Atonement People know instinctively that they need atonement. If they don’t go to Christ they always invent poor substitutes. 1 I used to have a fetish about keeping clean. I can see that I used it as a false atonement.